Summary 24 Hour Coffee Shop - 1932 Words

24-Hour Coffee Shop Tauriel hates the midnight shift of the coffee shop. She has asked Legolas to switch shifts with her countless times, but he always refuses with a smile. Legolas has the morning shift with one of his classmates from university, Kà ­li. Legolas does not even need the job in Dori s coffee shop, his father s political position and family wealth leaves him well off. While the morning shift was busy, the steady stream of customers and orders made the 8hr shifts fly by as she had learned when she had covered Kà ­li’s shift one day. This was the best job that she could find though without leaving the town of Dale. If she left, if she went back to Greenwood, there would be plenty of jobs, or if she travelled to the more populated west or south. However, the quiet of the desolate North suits her for the time being. It is here that she wants to be. The midnight shifts, 10pm-6am, however are boring. She has caught herself falling asleep on the bar with a book in her hands more than once. The one good thing about this shift was that it supplies her with ample time to read some of the hundreds of books that are on her to-read list. Tonight she cannot get into the volume that is now laying open and face down on the countertop, Reading in the Dark . It is interesting, she wants to read it, but she cannot seem to get into the story. Therefore, she finds other things to do with her time. Tonight she has washed every surface in the small coffee shop, but not aShow MoreRelatedTims Coffee Shop1355 Words   |  6 PagesAnalyze Report for Tim’s Coffee Shop AB299-02 01/19/2011 Nicole Badgley Executive Summary The coffee shop can become more profitable with some minor changes. The business is open 20 hours per day. It would be wise to expand the business hours to 24 hours per day. 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Rhetorical Analysis of “Making a Killing off Captivity” by Melissa Richards Free Essays

Kept in captivity since 1961, orcas have been spectacles for millions of people each year who flock to marine parks around the world in hopes of entertainment and education. The chance to get close to such an incredible creature that one may not have the opportunity to see otherwise is undoubtedly an amazing experience. But Melissa Richards questions in â€Å"Making a Killing off Captivity†, at what cost are we getting this experience? She argues that the positive image big-name aquatic parks create for animals is in actual fact leading people to unknowingly support a cruel industry. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"Making a Killing off Captivity† by Melissa Richards or any similar topic only for you Order Now Explaining the detrimental effects of taking an orca out of its natural habitat, Richards emphasizes her concern for the conservation of Orcas and the importance of treating these powerful and dangerous creatures with respect. Richards begins by setting a joyful scene of a SeaWorld orca performance, an invitation for the reader to enter a high spirited fun spectacle of an orca. Weighing several tonnes the orca circles, leaps and splashes the delighted audience. Suddenly, the mood shifts horrifically as the trainer becomes victim to an orca attack in front of a stunned audience. The sharp change in mood is established by Richards when she says, â€Å"The show ended to a usual bout of applause and cheers, until ‘Tilly’ grabbed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, by her ponytail and dragged the woman into his tank. † Just as one would think that the spectacle was over, the reader is shocked at the unexpected ending as the audience would have been at Seaworld. The reader’s perception of the orca as being a fun loving, friendly creature, emphasized by the amusing nickname ‘Tilly’, immediately changes to perceiving the orca as a villain. Richards questions â€Å"what could have prompted this sudden violent outburst from Tilikum, a whale who has been in captivity for almost thirty years? † This question brings new dimension to the matter at hand. Suddenly the situation isn’t as black and white as one would have assumed. She elaborates by stating, â€Å"the stress of being captive and made to perform daily had elicited a frustration against his trainer†. Richards manipulates the reader’s perception towards the orca, from a villain to a victim. The deliberate changes of perception towards orcas helps in avoiding predictability in Richards’ argument, this is an effective way to keep the reader focused and intrigued in her writing. Richards elaborates by stating that captivity has had many detrimental effects on orcas including ‘atypical illnesses, erratic behavior, deformities, neurotic problems and early death’. These conditions bring light to the fact that the matter at hand is life threatening and ‘counterproductive to the goals of wildlife appreciation and conservation’. Intertwining these critical issues of wildlife conservation and animal cruelty, she stresses the urgency in her argument. There is a need to convey the message that action must be taken immediately. It is acknowledged that to know whether the orcas are being mistreated in their artificial habitat, we must know the natural habitat of an orca. Richards does a commendable job of familiarizing the reader the sheer magnitude of a creature that many people are unknown to via statistics. Travelling â€Å"one hundred nautical miles every day† (qtd Landeau 1) and weighing â€Å"1. to 3. 6 tons† it is no wonder that their power and strength has earned them the nickname of the â€Å"wolves of the sea†. Despite the general unfamiliarity of these exotic creatures, Richards draws comparisons of the behavior and characteristics of Orcas to that of humans. Orcas have been found to create social and familial bonds with one another, The idea that whales share similar bonds to thei r family as we do encourages the readers to change their belief that whales may not be as alien of a species as they had imagined. This is further elaborated when Richards states â€Å"Mothers are the main caretakers of their offspring, but fathers will remain with their own matriarchal pod, helping to care for the young within this maternal line. † Words such as â€Å"caretakers†, â€Å"helping† and â€Å"care† appeal to the reader’s emotions as we see how affectionate the orca species can be within their pod just as we are affectionate to our kin. â€Å"The familial bonds within orca pods are very strong and only can be broken through death and capture of member† (qtd Williams 9). Suddenly, the loving image of an orca pod is brought back to our harsh reality as she clearly states that captivity devastates innocent orca families. While Richards draws emphasis to the social behavior of orcas, she also informs us of their impressive cognitive abilities. â€Å"orcas are one of the few animals besides humans to have such distinctive language and shared speech patterns among individuals living in the same area† This shows that not only do orcas have strong communal bond with each other, they also communicate so effectively that this is a rare occurrence in the animal kingdom. She stresses the similarity between the reader and the orca species here, this creates familiarity. Moreover, she compares the habitat and behavior of orcas in the wild to those held captive in marine parks. Incorporating the opinion of a former Seaworld trainer (Jeffrey Ventre), a truly credible source considering her experience, the argument is strengthened by a bold statement. â€Å"the SeaWorld system is the best of all seaquaria in the world, if I was an orca, that would be the last place I’d want to live† This suggests that even at its best, marine parks and seaquarias are far from the ideal habitat for an orca. Ventre compares an orca tank to â€Å"an acoustically dead cement pond† emphasizing the numbing atmosphere of a captive orca’s habitat. Case studies of orcas being neurologically and physically damaged because of captivity add credibility to Richards case. Due to â€Å"inadequate space in which to swim† (qtd Williams 52), the dorsal fins of an orca can collapse. This could happen as a result of colliding with the side of the small tank. The size of orca tanks can have great effect on the neurological stability of an orca where some have been documented to self induce physical damage. According to ‘Listening to Whales’ by Alexandra Morton, a young killer whale was observed â€Å"rushing over to a particular spot and banging her head against the underside of a dock†. Swimming in circles and being separated from their families causes the orca to become neurotic. Isolation can be severely detrimental for an orca as some are forced to be in solitary confinement. If orcas cannot adapt to captivity they are made to endure horrifying conditions as in the case study of â€Å"Junior† who died â€Å"lethargic and psychotic† after being kept in an indoor pool without natural light and other orcas. Richards emphasized that orcas are highly social creatures so the idea that it is common practice for captive orcas to be isolated is truly shocking. To further support her argument, Richards shows us how captivity is harmful to orcas with the use of numbers and statistics. After the first orca was taken into captivity in 1961 â€Å"at least 106 (79%) are now dead† (qtd Williams 4). The average lifespan of an orca is approximately sixty to eighty years, which means the majority of orcas do not die from a natural death. This is addressed when Richards states â€Å"one in five of these deaths were a result of avoidable or preventable causes†. It is clear that preventing the death of orcas is not unachievable if more people knew the risks of captivity. Richards appeals to the reader by explaining how the relationship between a mother orca and it’s offspring can be heartbreakingly affected by living in a tank. After a giving birth to a series of orcas that died in weeks, â€Å"Corky† the killer whale was encountering a problem in which her offspring could not instinctually find the spot on Corky to nurse on. This is because of the circular nature of the tank. In the wild, orcas travel in straight lines that make it easier for the offspring to feed. Corky had been continuously pregnant for almost ten years and â€Å"finally at the young age of twenty one, Corky stopped ovulating. † † The death of multiple innocent babies that was so easily avoidable is tragic and makes the reader sympathize with these creatures. Other occurrences that may not be seen in the wild is aggression between orcas. Richards documents a sickening account of two orcas fighting aggressively. â€Å"As Kandu hemorrhaged into the tank and spouted blood from her blowhole onto the stage, SeaWorld staffed ushered a shocked audience out of the audience†¦ This gruesome event graphically conveys the point that captivity induces strange behavior in orcas, ultimately due to neurological damage. This study makes a point of noting the sheer strength and ferocity that an orca can possess. Overall I believe Richards does a commendable job of conveying her argument. She uses credible sources and reliable statistics in order to support her point of view. I have personally been to an orca show in California, reading this article made me reflect on that experience and completely change my percep tion. At the time the experience was completely positive and almost magical as we stepped in to a fantasy land where Shamu was almost a cartoon character, jumping and leaping out of glee. Reading this article has made me realize that Shamu is far from an enchanting Disney character but is actually one of the fiercest, most powerful predators in the ocean. Richards has achieved this with her various case studies that enlightened me on the magnitude of an orca and its ability to kill not only humans but other orcas too. She has persuaded the reader to support her argument with the use of emotions. However, Richards has made an effort to avoid rambling needlessly to provoke empathy by using clear facts to accompany her opinions. An aspect of her research paper that I would change would be the incorporation of the Vancouver Aquarium. The aim of Richards argument was to eliminate captivity in order to conserve the orca population and animal cruelty. However, she has shown Vancouver aquarium in a positive light by stating it â€Å"eliminates parallel surfaces, reduces noise transmission and improves acoustics within the water†. Although Vancouver Aquarium vowed to end orca shows after the death of an orca in their aquarium, I believe Richards message in this quotation is that these conditions are acceptable for an orca in captivity. My personal belief is that no orca should be taken from their natural habitat and away from their pod at all. I believe that this article was written at a point in time that it was needed the most. Conservation and wildlife protection is of utmost importance as hundreds of species a day are rapidly moving towards extinction. This article has shown that we need to be more aware of how we treat animals. Ultimately, Richards has done a fantastic job of educating the reader about a topic that is alien to many. With the use of powerful statistics, thought provoking points and emotional case studies, she has produced a strong argument. The ultimate reaction I believe many readers will walk away from this article with is disappointment, distaste and disillusionment towards orca shows and marine parks. The next time one makes a trip to SeaWorld they must question whether they are going for a day of education and entertainment or whether they are supporting a business built on exploitation of innocent orcas. How to cite Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"Making a Killing off Captivity† by Melissa Richards, Papers

Managing taxation compliance

Questions: 1. You client, Rob, has the following income and deductions for the financial year ended 30 June 2015: salary, $32,000; bank interest received, $150; and allowable deductions for special work clothing, $450. Robs employer has deducted $2600 as PAYG tax from his salary during the year? 2. During the current income year Rafael, a resident taxpayer, has a gross salary of $68,000 (PAYG tax withheld $15,100), a fully franked dividend of $2,000, an unfranked dividend of $1,000, and a 60% franked dividend of $900? Answers: 1. 2. Bibliography: Barkoczy, S., 2016. Foundations of Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Braithwaite, V. and Braithwaite, J., 2016. Managing taxation compliance: The evolution of the ATO Compliance Model. Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C. and Pinto, D., 2016. Australian Taxation Law 2016.OUP Catalogue. Xynas, L., Blissenden, M., Villios, S. and Kenny, P., 2014. Allowable deductions, cost base of CGT assets and the GAAR: a minefiled for taxpayers and their advisers.Australian Tax Law Bulletin,1(5), p.94.

Quality vs. TQM an Example of the Topic All Posts by

Quality vs. TQM Introduction Quantum Research International (2007) mentioned, Quantum Research International, Inc. founded in August 1987, in Huntsville, AL, is an independently owned small business that provides planning; research and analysis; and engineering and information technology products, services and solutions to U.S. Armed Forces, Federal Government, and industry customers (Corporate profile, para. 1). The company has over 300 employees and consultants who provide top notch service to QRI customers. QRI is a services-based company that is highly recognized in its industry as a leader. The company has no formal mission statement, vision statement, listed goals, or listed objectives. However, by going through information provided at QRI's (2007) website, these items of importance can be identified. The purpose of this analysis is to compare QRI's corporate responsibility, mission, vision, goals, objectives, and strategies to the quality of its products and services. In addition, the researcher will comp are Motorola, Inc. and its total quality management (TQM) to Quantum Research International, detailing the differences. Need essay sample on "Quality vs. TQM" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Discussion Determining QRI's corporate responsibility Corporate responsibility can be thought of as a company's commitment to the micro-environment (customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, media, and competitors) (Learn Marketing.net, n.d.). QRI (2007) is committed to providing quality to customers through its employees. The company has no formal written mission or mission statement. Yet, QRI (2007) takes pride in providing customers with the highest level of customer satisfaction possible. In fact, QRI's (2007) diligence helped the company acquire a contract worth almost $450 million in 2006: (Huntsville, AL and Colorado Springs, CO) Quantum Research International, Inc. (Quantum) has been awarded the Concepts and Operations for Space and Missile Defense Integration Capabilities (COSMIC) contract to provide support to the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command, Future Warfare Center, Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab (SMDBL). The total value of the contract, including options, is in excess of $449M over a ten-year period of performance. (In the news, para. 1) The company's core competencies are the reason why. QRI (2007) has many core competencies, including: National security and force modernization Logistics Organizational improvement and leadership services Command, control communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance Air and missile defense Homeland security Test and evaluation Survivability analysis and assessment Audio, video, and video teleconferencing technologies Modeling, simulation, and analysis Strategic planning and programmatics (Core competencies). According to Kotelnikov (2008) Your company's core competencies are the things that you can do better than your competitors in the critical, central areas of your company where the most value is added to your products (What: Is core competence?, para. 1). Thus, one might say that QRI's (2007) mission is to outperform the company's competitors. In order to achieve this, QRI must provide its customers with outstanding quality in the company's products and services. Quality, as Merriam-Webster (2008) defined, is a degree of excellence (#2a), social status (#3a), and an acquired skill (#4b). As a result, QRI (2007) is aligning its core competencies with quality in the sense that the company is highly recognized as an industry leader for the quality of the products and services provided (Core competencies). QRI's goals, objectives, and strategic focus QRI did not list any goals, objectives, or strategies either. However, based upon the core competencies, one goal and objective can be to utilize core competencies (goal) that lead to a sustainable competitive advantage (objective) and results in superior value creation (strategic focus) (Kotelnikov, 2008). As mentioned earlier, quality is a degree of excellence (Merriam-Webster, 2008, #2a). Significantly, QRI (2007) considers its employees the company's livelihood and strength (Corporate profile, para. 2). Thus, QRI's quality is the end result of increased productivity and a low employee turnover rate from the company's highly skilled and motivated employees. In order to achieve the company's goal, objective and strategic focus, QRI must have a vision. On the front page of the company's website, by the Quantum Research International logo, are the words Where vision becomes reality (QRI, 2007). Remarkably, this means that quality is being achieved. Does this mean that QRI also demons trates total quality management? Yes and no. On the one hand, the company is attentive to its micro-environment (Learn Marketing.net, n.d.). Sadly, QRI (2007) has not implemented the TQM strategy within its organization. Total quality management (TQM) Hashmi (2008) defined, Total quality management, TQM, is a management philosophy that seeks to integrate all organizational functions (marketing, finance, design, engineering, and production, customer service, etc.) to focus on meeting customer needs and organizational objectives (TQM defined, para. 1). Consequently, QRI (2007) satisfies its customers and is the leader in the company's industry. Yet, the organization has not aligned all these functions together. Right now, QRI does have outstanding quality, but not total quality management. What company does? Motorola is one. Motorola demonstrates TQM The company, Motorola (2008) is a global communications leader with over 80 years of experience. Motorola (2008) United States region sales in 2007 were over $36.6 billion. The company helps people, businesses, and the government stay connected. Motorola has a rich history, dynamic future, and is driven by the spirit of innovation (Motorola, 2008, About Motorola). In fact, the company's philanthropy is community investment. Motorola's (2008) strategic focus is an emphasis on education, connecting the unconnected, critical community needs, and employee involvement. The company has a solid corporate responsibility as well. Motorola (2008) indicated that, Corporate responsibility means harnessing the power of our global business to benefit people. It also means doing the right thing in all aspects of our business, including how we treat the environment, our employees, our customers, our partners and our communities. (Corporate Responsibility) Additionally, Motorola (2008) guides its company on a profound set of business principles: Innovative products, customer delight and quality Ethics and transparency Environmental quality Diversity and inclusion Safe and healthy workforce Economic opportunities and growth Supplier relationship Community support Shareholder value (Corporate responsibility: Business principles). All of these principles are consistent with total quality management. Why? TQM principles The principles of total quality management call for the organization to be committed to everything. In fact, Hashmi (2008) pointed out these principles as follows: Management commitment (plan, do, check, act), Employee empowerment (training, suggestion scheme, measurement and recognition excellence teams), Fact based decision making (SPC, DOE FEMA, The 7 statistical tools, TOPS), Continuous improvement (systematic measurement and focus on CONQ, excellence teams, cross-functional process management, and attain, maintain and improve standards) Customer focus (supplier partnership, service relationship with internal customers, never compromise quality, and customer driven standards) (Principles of TQM). An organization that understands its corporate responsibility and strategic focus can determine whether or not total quality management is feasible. Motorola (2008) has defined its corporate responsibility whereas Quantum Research International (2007) has not. Furthermore, Motorola (2008) listed its philanthropy, strategic focus, and business principles as well. These are things associated with the micro-environment which leads to TQM. QRI must do the same if the company wishes to achieve TQM. Conclusion Motorola's total quality management (business principles) can be implemented into the Quantum Research International, Inc. For example, Diversity and inclusion (Motorola, 2008) is similar to the QRI (2007) having its employees as the backbone of the organization. QRI's (2007) core competencies parallel Motorola's (2008) Innovative products, customer delight and quality as well as Economic opportunities and growth (Corporate responsibility: Business principles).Moreover, what the researcher considers to be QRI's (2007) goal, objective, and strategic focus is identical to Motorola's (2008) Ethics and transparency (values), Community support (competitive advantage), and shareholder value (maximizing wealth) (Corporate responsibility: Business principles). Environmental quality, Safe and healthy workforce, and Supplier relationship all deal with the internal organization (Motorola, 2008). Basically, these things will only be effective if the employees are motivated to succeed and managem ent has a good rapport with suppliers. Currently, QRI (2007) says the employees make the organization and does not clearly define management's duties. Thus, QRI needs to envision (strategic focus) a vision (total quality management) and make it a reality (create a mission; set goals, objectives, and strategies; and define corporate responsibilities). References Hashmi, K. (2008). Introduction and implementation of total quality management (TQM). iSixSigma. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Kotelnikov, C. (2008). Core competencies: Things you can do better than your competition. Innovation Unlimited. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Learn Marketing.net. (n.d.). Micro environmental factors. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Merriam-Webster. (2008) Quality. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from website: http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/quality Motorola. (2008). About Motorola. Retrieved October 23, 2008. Quantum Research International (QRI). (2007). Quantum Research International. Retrieved October 22, 2008.

Margaret Hilda Roberts

I was born, was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on Oct. 13, 1925, in Lincolnshire, England. I went to Oxford and majored in chemistry. After graduating, in 1947, my first job was as a research chemist for a plastics company in Essex. Afterwards, I started to study law and became involved in the legal practice. I first ran for public office in 1950, and at the age of 24 I was the youngest women candidate. I lost that election for a seat in the Labour Party. In 1951, I married Dennis Thatcher and in 1953 I had twins, Carol and Mark. They didnt slow me down much. I ran two more times until I finally received a seat in the House of Commons, in 1959. Then I finally received my big break. I ran for the party leader, they only gave me a 50 to 1 change of winning, but I did. At the age of 49 I became the first woman to lead on of Britain's major political parties. In Britain, if the political party that is in power is not ruling properly then new elections are held to vote for t!he party that should be in power, so then I was infact a candidate for Prime Minister. The Conservative Party (her party) was by 43 seats (votes from the House of Commons). I became the first female Prime Minister in the history of Britain May 4, 1979.

Noble Gas Chemical Compounds

Noble Gas Chemical Compounds The noble gases do form chemical compounds, even though they have filled electron valence shells. Here is a look at how they form compounds and some examples. How Noble Gases Form Compounds Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon have completed valence electron shells, so they are highly stable. However, the filled inner electron shells tend to provide a sort of electrical shielding, making it possible to ionize the outer electrons. Under ordinary conditions, noble gases are inert and dont form compounds, but when ionized or under pressure, they will sometimes working into the matrix of another molecule or combine with highly reactive ions. Reaction with halogens is most favorable, where the noble gas loses an electron and acts as a positively charged ion to form a compound. Examples of Noble Gas Compounds Many types of noble gas compounds are theoretically possible. This list includes compounds which have been observed. noble gas halides (e.g., xenon hexafluoride - XeF6, krypton fluoride - KrF2)noble gas clathrates and clathrate hydrates (e.g., Ar, Kr, and Xe clathrates with ÃŽ ²-quinol, 133Xe clathrate)noble gas coordination compoundsnoble gas hydrates (e.g., Xe ·6H2O)helium hydride ion - HeHoxyfluorides (e.g., XeOF2, XeOF4, XeO2F2, XeO3F2, XeO2F4)HArFxenon hexafluoroplatinate (XeFPtF6 and XeFPt2F11)fullerene compounds (e.g., HeC60 and NeC60) Uses of Noble Gas Compounds Presently most noble gas compounds are used to help store noble gases at high density or as potent oxidizers. The oxidizers are useful for applications where it is important to avoid introducing impurities into a reaction. When the compound participates in a reaction, the inert noble gas is released.

Project Management Plan Essay & Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Project Management Plan & Presentation - Essay Example Application of these systems have proved to be insufficient in operations of Qatar Hospitals and requires improvement. As such, this current system will be replaced by an Integrated Hospital System (HS) in order to improve the performance of the hospital operations. The new systems seeks to update the hospital system in the wake of technological advancement especially during emergencies. The purpose of Request for Quotes is to request proposal to replace the current Qatar Hospitals Systems with a new integrated Hospital System (HS) for greater functionality and integration with other vital information systems. The Request for Quotes indicates the basic requirements of the project, hardware and software and description of RFQ process. The resolution of this document is to express the communications strategies and goals of the sustainable integration project. These advanced goals and strategies are anticipated to offer direction in planning and evaluating results of the present and forthcoming communications efforts. The sustainable packaging project Communications Management Plan (CMP) expresses the project’s organization and procedures of information screening, collection, distribution and formatting of project information. The communication log for this project helps track communication as follows. The plan will be aimed to document the tools, processes and procedures that will be used to achieve and control those events that could have a negative effect on this project. All the risks that are related to the project. The details regarding identifying the risk, assessing, risk tracking and reporting as well as risk contingency plan will be included. The identified risks are presented as

A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction Research Paper

A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction - Research Paper Example Approach The study has been conducted on the basis of secondary resources. The research works of different authors have been analysed for performing present a research work on this topic. The paper compiles many research works already undertaken in this area (references given below). Results Such a study has provided us a detailed explanation on the impact of relationship management in maintaining customer satisfaction. The various strategies that have been adopted by the organizations are found to be highly significant for running the organisation successfully. Outcomes obtained through researches show that the application of the concept of relationship marketing in the organization helps in maintaining a healthy customer relation. The company will be enjoying a better position and be more confident with the fact that old customers have been retained. Satisfaction and Trust are the two main pillars of the organizations. Researchers have always emphasized upon the fact that building up strong customer relationships as well as its sustenance plays a key role in the company’s growth and prosperity. Thus it can be said that that the stress laid on customer satisfaction under relationship management forms an essential ingredient for marketing a product. Conclusion The aim of the firms should be to lure consumers by adopting a particular kind of behaviour or attitude. This will encourage an ongoing reciprocal interaction between the customer and the product, service or business concerned parties. This method of building relation has been highlighted throughout the paper in the process of buying and selling. Discussion Marketing has acquired a new dimension through such a revolutionary concept of relationship marketing. It has given much importance to the fact of maintaining good relation with the customers and providing them products according to their preference. In this process the procedure of firms and its strategies of increasing sales by satisfying customers came under the limelight. Effective strategies would surely assure a better stand to the firm in front of stakeholders. A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction Introduction Marketing is one of the key function and aggregation of processes in an organization aimed at creating and delivering values to the customers. It creates effective relationships with the customer besides successful communication on the behalf of the organization. This proves beneficial to the firms and stakeholders (Tuli & Bharadwaj, p.184). The paper illustrates how the concept of sharing with customers as a part of marketing strategy maximises customer satisfaction. A successful marketing strategy and appropriate management of relationships ensures that customers are retained. For that it is important to focus on the concept of personalization in marketing that will drive the commitment value to the customer(Ashley, Noble, Donthu and Lemon, 2011, p.754).Commitment is termed as a natural ingredient in businesses for manufacturing a product as well as for a service rendered(Liu, Guo and Lee, 2011, pp.71-72). Firms may take into account consumers’ complains as well as suggestions and work towards them as part of their commitment towards customers. The basic rule for m arketing a product is to provide the customers with the products and services best in the industry. This needs to be followed from the beginning to the end.

Proscenium and Concert Essay Example for Free

Proscenium and Concert Essay Thesis statement: A concert would not be possible without considering the importance of an organized and well-equipped facility. Successful concerts are what performers and organizer and audiences all hope for. This not only means the thoughtful programming of quality music, but also a smoothly run performance and production. Therefore, a lot of planning and making sure that everything is in order is the key to a successful all-out concert (Hudson, 2012). According to Vertudez, one of our interviewees, â€Å"Planning ahead of time [is the most important thing in organizing an event]. There could be some difficulties in setting up the facilities if you would not plan ahead of time.† Concerts became increasingly important to consider the many facets involved in presenting a concert. Concert events have been part of many cultures. Thus, it should require a lot of attention when organizing such events since a lot of participants are expecting a sure blast from it, taking into concern that 18 out of 40 concert attendees consider the facilities before attending concerts. For a start, it is necessary to determine what is wanted to attain out of the concert. Our interviewees mentioned the purposes of the concert they organized and to whom these concerts are for. This means that the organizers should need to identify the target audience of the concert and write a list of everything that is needed to be done. Preparing for logistics must be at the top of the list. Logistics are all the details that make the event happen. They range from ordering of the foods, if there is, to making sure that clean-up happens after the meal; from finding the right location to making sure that the needed props are ready. In short, logistics are all the little and big aspects that make for an event. The whole procedure of conceptualizing starts with setting up regular meet-ups with the concert committee to organize the aim of the plan (Matthews, 2008). The general principle behind a facility is to provide an area in which  audience can enjoy the concert event in a safe comfortable atmosphere. The facilities and structures are crucial for the whole event. Facilities are the aspect that ensures the smooth run of the concert. Facilities are composed of almost everything that is needed to make an event look perfect. The facility starts with the whole venue itself, the size, the capacity to accommodate people and the structure of the place, basically everything about the whole site. The sitting capacity, entrance and exit are also parts of the concerns of the facilities. Furthermore, the main concern of facilities in the concert is the equipment and sound system for the whole performance of the concert which is basically the highlight of the whole program. A concert is not be possible without considering the importance of an organized and well-equipped facility. It is always important to plan ahead of time when organizing events like concert. According to Quay (2012), the scope of the event may differ depending on the venue, some principles and practices to reduce uncertainties associated with planning. The venue should be settled first for existing facility available for the event. This is one of the essential factors when researching the feasibility of the project. The decision whether to hold the even indoor or outdoor is important. According to the results of the survey we conducted, 14 out 40 respondents prefer indoor events than outdoors because of the facilities used. Indoor concerts are held in appropriately sized venues for the anticipated crowd with public safety being the primary concern. However, campus facilities and resources should primarily support the event. In outdoor events, the facility should be maintained starting from walkways, sidewalks and entryways. These things are to be considered when deciding whether to hold an indoor or outdoor concert. The booking of the venue should be done ahead of time to assure the usage of facilities (Stamp, 2011). The decision of choosing a venue lies in the hands of the organizer—taking into consideration the equipment needed—for the audience to appreciate the sound systems used. All the needed sound equipment must be in good conditions before a performance as a sound engineer prefers. The organizer is also the one responsible in discussing venue matters with the owner of  the venue (Gross, 2005). Most of the facilities used in events are actually placed on the stage—the most obvious or center part of the concert. Staging in special events is essential and is actually adopted from theatre specials. Three types of stages are used according to the kind of special events namely thrust, proscenium and aerna stages. Thrust stage does not have backstage area so it requires fewer facilities and the audience area is just in front of the stage. Proscenium stage is often found in modern theatres where large backdrops are required. Arena stage requires the most facility because there are lots of entrances and it is constructed for really special events but audio, lighting and sight-line can cause problems (Matthews, 2008). Facilities depend on the venue. According to Pendon, one of our interviewees, â€Å"the lights and sounds system requires a certain electric current for the system to sustain its power. Plus the accommodation should be near the venue for the attendees to have convenience and less-hassle in their part.† Another example, for the past thirty years, concerts have been held in our country and there has been quite a number of known venues that hosted local and foreign artists. Currently, the Philippines has only two main concert venues that can occupy 10, 000 people—specifically, the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena. In 2014, the Philippine Arena is expected to be opened in Bulacan. Even if it is being built by a religious congregation, the said venue can still be available for other big events for it has 50, 000 sitting capacity. These venues have comfortable seats and strict policies which make them best concert venues in the city. They have more available facilities than open concert grounds because of sufficient air-conditioning systems and well-maintained toilets. All of these are considered to put up concert facilities (Concepcion, 2011). In order for a concert to be possible, it is necessary to need a committee. It is an important factor to consider having to appoint a management team to ensure that the facilities in the concert are in good condition. Furthermore, the team responsible in organizing the facilities should also be divided into specific sections. For instance in the checking  of acoustics, taking care of the number of seats as well as the arrangement of it, decorating the whole venue and also the people who will be responsible for cleaning the venue after the event. To greatly ensure and to be able to control the whole production, setting up meetings regularly would absolutely help. Weeks or even months before the actual event, everything should all be planned and set-upped. Considering a checklist should be put in concern. In addition, it is necessary to find out as much information, concerning the whole production, as possible ahead of time. The committee should always take time to look at every aspect of the event during the whole progress, as well as, set up meetings with the organizing committee regularly from the start of the process until the day of the concert (Hudson, 2012). Occasions will essentially need a lot of workers to be assigned on specific areas and tasks which are definitely crucial for the event (Health and Safety Executive, 1999). Events may rely on enthusiastic helpers. The crucial aspect is good coordination by the event management team, and close supervision and monitoring of helpers. The organizing group should be able to provide many services and great help in putting up the event. Management of workers and helpers requires clear job functions and responsibilities to be identified. Everyone working or providing services at the event should be clear about what they are required to do, how to do it and when it needs to be done. This can be achieved by preparing a schedule. Moreover, it is crucial for an event to assure the safety of everyone. An important occasion will absolutely be a success if it will be completely secured by the right and enough service of security (Smith, n.d.). All event organizers must be clearly aware of their responsibilities for the audience and other participants in the event, including the performers. Not only will the number of people attending be significant for the event management, but the activity itself will also influence the safety requirements. The essential components needed in the concert are the equipments, particularly the electronic devices such as the band instruments and the machines for stage effects. All the important audio equipment used in  special events is placed onstage. These includes all the equipment used by the performers such as vocal and instrument microphones, mixers and CD/DVD players as they are the ones to control them (Matthews, 2008). Stage setup is crucial to an effective and streamlined concert. Stage setup will vary in terms of how many artists are involved. Each piece of instrument should have its designated place. It is critical to set up the stage correctly in order for the performers and audience to enjoy best sound quality as possible. It would be best to plan ahead the setting up of instruments for it to be easily placed on stage. In setting up the amplifiers, it should be placed up on stage orderly. For the speakers on the stage, the main speakers should be placed toward the front of the stage in both sides and facing at an angle to the audience for optimal sound. Furthermore, the stage monitors should allow the performers to monitor the total sound output as heard by the audience. Lastly, in setting up the microphones, the number of performers and instruments that will need it should be considered. The microphones should also be placed in front of the amplifiers. The other form of equipment, which includes the smoke machines, the lights and others, will be needed to make the show look more spectacular. The lighting plan should have a list of each light, its location and what part of the stage it will light. In any stage events like play or concerts, it is important to attend rehearsals in order to familiarize with the changes of mood and positions of performers onstage. With this, one will know what he or she is lighting and if it fits (Cummings, 2011). Moreover, the special effects such as the smoke machines should be place in where the design of the stage will not be ruined and the performers should not be bothered. Furthermore, everything should have security plans in order to be ready if some unfortunate dilemmas occur with the electronic devices on the stage. The most common reason of special events’ power problems is grounding. It can cause potential shock to the person manipulating the power system and a buzzing sound in the audio system. A good practice on grounding can be done on outdoor shows. However, it is essential to be familiar with power systems  even if one is not an electrician. Just bear in mind to be careful around power systems to avoid accidents (Moody, 2010). Producers must be concerned with the risks involved in the operation of equipment and with safety of their own contracted personnel and participants Risk and safety should be considered in hosting special events like concerts. Too many event producers and event managers are not aware of facts about accidents that may occur such as standards for allowable stage load. Worse that can happen is for the people to be injured. Other problems that may occur will be on the venue, committee and equipment—all related and concerned with the facility. Moreover, problems occur in setting up concert venues because most are not set-up until the exact date of the event is a few days away. It is hard to predict how the location will look like especially if the place is not really similar. In addition to this, some popular event venues are fully booked that may require errands in setting up and removing equipments and decorations. Because of this, more works are predictably going to arise once the exact schedule of the concert approaches this can cause a domino effect when unfinished preparations of the venue pile up (Quay, 2012). Although the occurrence of problems is on the venue, it is inevitable for them to occur on the committee assigned to the facility. There are many tasks that should be undertaken and services that should be provided during an event. According to Stamp (2011), the event organizer has the responsibility to manage structure for an event which may differ between planning and technical operations. Another problem may occur when a member of the staff will not be able to attend the event. Once the performers or students are allowed to bring their set of equipment, no one will be able to cater to them when there is a need for trouble-shooting or repairing their equipments. Moreover, lack of crews will more likely cause problems in handling facilities of the concert. In fact, it expands the duties of the other available crews making them even busier. Additionally, usual problems may also occur in equipment. Normally, artists bring with them their own equipments. This usually include microphones,  instruments, effect machines, monitor units and recording devices. Due to the number of brought equipment, there will not be enough time for a crew or organizer to perfectly familiarize with their personal equipment before the performance. However, it is important to at least go through it to be able to manipulate it properly during the performance (Gross, 2005). Likewise, it is important to assume that a minor incident can have a potential to develop into a major incident if not properly planned for and managed. Thus, all incidents cause crowd disturbances. According to Quay (2012), accidents and problems are unavoidable especially during the actually concert, but if the organizers planned everything smoothly, it will be easier to handle all the facilities. It is essential to remember providing the audience with guides to the place and markings in the venue, such as arrows or printed labels of places, in order for people to not be lost and find the place that they are looking for, immediately. It is also necessary to ensure that on the day of the event, the person in-charge of opening the site will be able to open it on time (Youth Employment Summit, 2001).It will be up to the kind of event to determine the amount and sort of maintenance and other crucial logistics needed for facilities of the event. However, the design of the venue should consider the figures, such as the numbers, that has been finalized (Health Safety Executive, 1999). From the interviews conducted from student concert organizers, accidents are usually resolved as soon as they occur. Pendon also say that â€Å"Due to preparedness of whatever accident of malfunction that might happen, there is always an alternative or replacement for every facility needed.† Moreover, venue access is a function of the design of access roads. Such facilities have to be able to cope with the demand. In addition, the design and location of entrances should depend on the numbers of entrances required, where they are placed and the capacity to be handled at each entrance. Furthermore, concerning the stage decoration, it is important to check if it will create a good atmosphere on the stage and it should not get  too carried away by the decoration. Simple, elegant and inexpensive decorations should be used. Be creative, but avoid complicated arrangements so that everyone can participate in making the decorations. Make sure to have a good visible banner and that everything fits well with the stage. With the committee that was appointed, the team must compose of individuals who are reliable. It does not have to be a big team. The most important thing is that the team members share same enthusiasm for the cause; because after all, they are not being paid. Be sure to be surrounded only with people who are constantly positive and encouraging. Most important is that the team can be count on to be supportive throughout the planning and organizing the concert. In addition, as much as possible, all the details on what equipment would be needed in the concert should be enlisted in order to know what else needs to be provided (Gardner, 2011). The place on stage where the instruments and special effects machines will be placed should be finalized. The position of the machines and instruments should be assured to not bother or interfere with the performance of the artists, the stage decoration and also the view of the audience. Lastly, it is crucial to double-check if the security that has been assigned will be efficient. The concert security guards should possess an array of skills to keep a venue and its patrons free from violence. They must be observant and alert, as well as, capable of monitoring many people at once. They also need the strength and endurance to spend hours at a time on their feet. All in all, the role of security guards at a concert is to keep both musicians and audience safe. To successfully hold a concert, practices are not enough. It is important to have a dry-run of the concert for sound check, lights and stage plans, security of the place and cleaning of the venue and facilities. The dry-run of the concert will help a lot in improving the actual concert itself and to foresee a good event. In other words, dry-runs are usually held to identify possible problems that may occur. It is indeed crucial to perform a sound check in an important event in order to avoid technical difficulties, notably of those with huge number of audience and complex acoustic and other instrumental facilities. In addition, in order to pull it off, an adequate amount of time for checking should be taken into consideration by the creators of the event. In all circumstances, wrong equipment and connections or insufficiently covered circuits may cause electric shock and overloading which can lead to sound failure and result in a fire. With this possibility of accident to happen, a qualified sound engineer should properly check on generators during the dry-run of the concert to keep the facilities maintained in a good working condition (Matthews, 2008). Most concert attendees notice problems on the facilities especially on the sets of equipment used. Specifically, out of 40 respondents, 25% say that they always notice problems occurring on microphones; 53% oftentimes notice problems with the speakers and sound systems; 50% says sometimes problems occur in the stage lightings; 43% also experiences problems with the seats. Out of 40 concert attendees, 90% of them, or 36, prefer venues with comfort rooms—this means that it should always be considered by the organizers as an important factor in facilities. Since having performance areas in different spaces is uncontrollable, expected stage design dilemma must be thought of, firstly, in the planned concept. Consequently, planning in advance and thinking of solutions for probably staging problems that may come along the way should be considered due to time problems that may also arouse (Moody, 2010). The dry-run can help in pre-planning as to change some equipment locations on the stage. For instance, it can also bring out more ideas in proper transition of lightings. Basically, the mock concert will help a lot in fixing the lights and stage plans. According to Quay (2012), the dry-run should also be checking on the security of facilities. There should be an appointed chief steward to take responsibility for all the security matters of the event facilities in case  something unexpected happens—taking into consideration more security stewards required to take account at entrances and exits, unauthorized areas, front of stage areas, securing structures or equipment whereas more facilities are located. They are also needed for general tasks such as providing information and managing the flow of the crowd. Thus, the dry-run can impede the safe operation of extra security checks to reduce problems during the actual concert. After the concert, it is natural for everyone involved to be completely worn out and will immediately want to head home to rest since it is undeniably tiring to put up a concert. In spite of that, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the venue will be let cleaned and as orderly as before the concert started (Gardner, 2011). To make this task easier, the organizers must have planned and divided its crew members to clean different facilities assigned to them. not all venues are free so there may be next event to be held at the same place so it must be cleaned right after the concert. After the research, including the interview and survey conducted, it is safe to conclude that a concert is not possible to be successful if the importance of an organized and well-equipped facility is not considered. There is no such event without any facility. The facility should make the event easier to organize rather than cause problems during the event. The facilities in a concert are important to lessen the effect of too much noise. These facilities include the stage, speakers, sound system and sound power levels which should all be fixed to minimize negative noise impact (Quay, 2012). Basically, facilities of a concert are mainly concerned with the sound systems as one of the core equipment to keep the quality of the event. Failure and accidents with the sound system is the last thing that organizers will likely expect. As the results of the survey show, audiences are also very aware of the facilities used in the concert and the whole concert has high dependence on it. Sometimes organization is needed for a concert to succeed. Aside from  the common concerns such as performers and selling tickets, it is important to consider the security, food, venue, equipment and advertising the event. It is also acceptable to estimate time and cost to be more important than they are (Hudson, 2012). There are also number of policies that govern the use of facilities depending on the venue. If the organizers show disregard for facilities and equipment or fails to abide by such given guidelines, it is possible for them to be denied further use of facilities. It is important to keep the place safe for all the concert attendees and crew members. The whole research on concert facilities implies that it is very important to preserve not only the crowd’s mood but also the artists’ lively mood and eagerness to perform. Keep in mind to push through schedules because time is really needed the most. Therefore, the facilities should help establish a connection between the audience and the performers and not disturb the ambiance surrounding them since 24 out of 40 concert attendees often think that a concert production depends on its facilities. References: Concepcion, P. (2011, March 1). A close look at the MoA Arena. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://entertainment.inquirer.net/43183/a-close-look-at-the-moa-arena Concepcion, P. (2011, January 3). A candid look at the metro’s top concert venues. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20110103-312321/A-candid-look-at-the-metros-top-concert-venues Concepcion, P. (2012, July 22). Big deal for big dome. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://entertainment.inquirer.net/43183/a-close-look-at-the-moa-arena Cummings, T. (2011, October 15). How to Set Up Stage Lights | eHow.com. eHow | How to Videos, Articles More Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. Retrieved September 25, 2012, from http://www.ehow.com/how_4853476_set-up-stage-lights.html Event management handbook: event planning. (2011). University of Maryland. The Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Event planning handbook: how to organize an event. (pp. 30-34). (2002). Logistics. YES. YES Workbook. Gardner, A. (2011, May 19). NewMusicBox  » Concert Organization Checklist. NewMusicBox . Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/concert-organization-checklist/ Gross, L. J. (n.d.). A basic introduction to concert sound engineering. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/ Guidelines for event organizers. (pp. 4-28). (2012). Advance planning, pre-event planning, managing the risk, management structure, preparing for the unexpected. Dublin Council: Wood Quay Books. Hudson, A. (n.d.). How to Set Up a Rock Concert | eHow.com. eHow | How to Videos, Articles More Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://www.ehow.com/how_7652963_set-up-rock-concert.html Matthews, D. (2008). Special event production the resources. Amsterdam: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Moody, J. L. (1989). Concert lighting: techniques, art, and business (3rd ed.). Boston: Focal Press. The event safety guide: a guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events. (2nd ed., pp. 15-20). (1999). Venue and Site Design. Norwich: HSE Books.

Grandpa - The Life of a Golfer and Great Man :: Biography Biographies Essays

Grandpa - The Life of a Golfer and Great Man As I got to know my husband's family, I knew golf was the one thing I eventually was going to have to learn. To them golf is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. Every summer they gather on the golf course for at least one round of golf a week and it always made me wonder, what is it about the game that has got them this hooked? Is there something about it I am just not getting? Every holiday, birthday or major occasion, there is always someone who will happily accept any gift related to golf. So one day, I began to ask questions, and eventually I found out the person they have to thank for this wonderful vice is Grandpa Luke. Luke Sutton is an 80 year old man who has played many roles. As you see him standing on the green, you see a man covered with the suntan of many summers spent outside playing golf. You see big rough hands, worn down from years of factory work, and the grey hair and many wrinkles he has earned. But you also see the twinkle in his eyes and the great big smile on his face that always invites you to come and talk with him for a while, since he has many stories to tell. I would like to tell you the story of how he became the golfer that he is, since it is an accomplishment of his no one knows much about. Luke Sutton was born in 1915 and grew up during the Depression Era in Henry, Illinois, a small suburb of Chicago. At age 9 he and his older brother found jobs as caddies at the Ravisloe Country Club. He was two years younger than the age limit for caddies, but he persuaded management to allow him to caddie for the ladies in the club. He was such a small boy and their golf bags were not as heavy as the men's golf bags. He was paid one dollar for each round played and when it was time to go home, he would walk the four miles back home. "Don't break the dollar for bus fare," his mother would say. It was a rough time financially and every little bit helped the whole family. It was through caddying that he developed his love for the sport.

Spirit Bound Chapter Twenty

â€Å"YOU'RE NOT MOROI!† HE CONTINUED. He wasn't shouting, but we'd definitely gotten the attention of the people standing near us. â€Å"You're Rose Hathaway, aren't you? How dare you and your impure blood invade the sanctity of our–â€Å" â€Å"That's enough,† a lofty voice suddenly said. â€Å"I'll take it from here.† Even with her face covered, there was no mistaking that voice. Tatiana swept in beside the guy, wearing a silver flowered mask and a long-sleeved gray dress. I'd probably seen her earlier in the crowd and not even realized it. Until she spoke, she blended in with everyone else. The whole room was quiet now. Daniella Ivashkov scurried up behind Tatiana, her eyes widening behind her mask when she recognized me. â€Å"Adrian–† she began. But Tatiana was seizing the situation. â€Å"Come with me.† There was no question that the order was for me or that I would obey. She turned and walked swiftly toward the room's entrance. I hurried behind her, as did Adrian and Daniella. As soon as we were out in the torch-lit hall, Daniella turned on Adrian. â€Å"What were you thinking? You know I don't mind you bringing Rose to certain events, but this was–â€Å" â€Å"Inappropriate,† said Tatiana crisply. â€Å"Although, perhaps it is fitting that a dhampir see how much the sacrifices of her people are respected.† That shocked us all into a moment of silence. Daniella recovered herself first. â€Å"Yes, but tradition states that–â€Å" Tatiana interrupted her again. â€Å"I'm well aware of the tradition. It's a bad breach of etiquette, but Rosemarie being here certainly doesn't ruin our intentions. Losing Priscilla†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Tatiana didn't choke up, exactly, but she lost some of her normal composure. I didn't think of someone like her as having a best friend, but Priscilla pretty much had been. How would I act if I'd lost Lissa? Not nearly so controlled. â€Å"Losing Priscilla is something I'll feel for a very, very long time,† Tatiana managed at last. Her sharp eyes were on me. â€Å"And I hope you really do understand how much we need and value you and all the other guardians. I know sometimes your race feels underappreciated. You aren't. Those who died have left a gaping hole in our ranks, one that leaves us even more undefended, as I'm sure you must know.† I nodded, still surprised Tatiana wasn't shrieking for me to get out. â€Å"It's a big loss,† I said. â€Å"And it makes the situation worse because numbers are what harm us half the time–especially when the Strigoi form large groups. We can't always match that.† Tatiana nodded, seeming pleasantly surprised we'd agreed on something. That made two of us. â€Å"I knew you'd understand. Nonetheless†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She turned toward Adrian. â€Å"You shouldn't have done this. Some lines of propriety need to be maintained.† Adrian was surprisingly meek. â€Å"Sorry, Aunt Tatiana. I just thought it was something Rose should see.† â€Å"You'll keep this to yourself, won't you?† asked Daniella, turning back to me. â€Å"A lot of the guests are very, very conservative. They wouldn't want this getting out.† That they met by firelight and played dress-up? Yeah, I could see them wanting that kept a secret. â€Å"I won't tell anyone,† I assured them. â€Å"Good,† said Tatiana. â€Å"Now, you should still probably leave before–is that Christian Ozera?† Her eyes had drifted back toward the crowded room. â€Å"Yes,† both Adrian and I said. â€Å"He didn't get an invitation,† exclaimed Daniella. â€Å"Is that your fault too?† â€Å"It's not my fault so much as my genius,† said Adrian. â€Å"I doubt anyone will know, so long as he behaves himself,† said Tatiana with a sigh. â€Å"And I'm sure he'd take any opportunity he can to talk to Vasilisa.† â€Å"Oh,† I said, without thinking. â€Å"That's not Lissa.† Lissa had actually turned her back toward Christian and was speaking to someone else while casting anxious looks out the door at me. â€Å"Who is it?† asked Tatiana. Crap. â€Å"That's, um, Mia Rinaldi. She's a friend of ours from St. Vladimir's.† I'd almost considered lying and giving her a royal name. Some families were so big that it was impossible to keep track of everyone. â€Å"Rinaldi.† Tatiana frowned. â€Å"I think I know a servant with that name.† I was actually pretty impressed that she knew the people who worked for her. Yet again, my opinion of her shifted. â€Å"A servant?† asked Daniella, giving her son a warning look. â€Å"Is there anyone else I should know about?† â€Å"No. If I'd had more time, I probably could have got Eddie here. Hell, maybe even Jailbait.† Daniella looked scandalized. â€Å"Did you just say Jailbait?† â€Å"It's just a joke,† I said hastily, not wanting to make this situation worse. I was afraid of how Adrian might answer. â€Å"It's what we sometimes call our friend Jill Mastrano.† Neither Tatiana nor Daniella seemed to think that was a joke at all. â€Å"Well, no one seems to realize they don't belong,† said Daniella, nodding toward Christian and Mia. â€Å"Though the gossips here will no doubt be running wild with how Rose interrupted this event.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said, feeling bad that I might have gotten her in trouble. â€Å"Nothing to be done for it now,† said Tatiana wearily. â€Å"You should leave now so that everyone thinks you were severely chastised. Adrian, you come back with us and make sure your other ‘guests' don't raise any attention. And do not do something like this again.† â€Å"I won't,† he said, almost convincingly. The three began to turn away, leaving me to skulk off, but Tatiana paused and glanced back. â€Å"Wrong or not, don't forget what you saw here. We really do need guardians.† I nodded, a flush of pride running through me at her acknowledgment. Then she and the others returned to the room. I watched them wistfully, hating that everyone in there thought I'd been kicked out in disgrace. Considering it could have gone a lot worse for me, I decided to count my blessings. I removed the mask, having nothing more to hide, and made the trek back upstairs and outdoors. I hadn't gotten very far when someone stepped out in front of me. It was a sign of my preoccupation that I nearly leapt ten feet in the air. â€Å"Mikhail,† I exclaimed. â€Å"You scared me half to death. What are you doing out here?† â€Å"Actually, I've been looking for you.† There was an anxious, nervous look about him. â€Å"I went by your building earlier, but you weren't around.† â€Å"Yeah, I was at the Masquerade of the Damned.† He stared at me blankly. â€Å"Never mind. What's up?† â€Å"I think we might have a chance.† â€Å"Chance for what?† â€Å"I heard you tried to see Dimitri today.† Ah, yes. The topic I definitely wanted to think more about. â€Å"Yeah. ‘Try' is pretty optimistic. He doesn't want to see me, never mind the army of guardians blocking me out.† Mikhail shifted uncomfortably, peering around like a frightened animal. â€Å"That's why I came to find you.† â€Å"Okay, I'm really not following any of this.† I was also starting to get a headache from the wine. Mikhail took a deep breath and exhaled. â€Å"I think I can sneak you in to see him.† I waited for a moment, wondering if there was a punch line coming or if maybe this was all some delusion born out of my wound-up emotions. Nope. Mikhail's face was deadly serious, and while I still didn't know him that well, I'd picked up enough to realize he didn't really joke around. â€Å"How?† I asked. â€Å"I tried and–â€Å" Mikhail beckoned for me to follow. â€Å"Come on, and I'll explain. We don't have much time.† I wasn't about to waste this chance and hurried after him. â€Å"Has something happened?† I asked, once I'd caught up to his longer stride. â€Å"Did†¦ did he ask for me?† It was more than I dared to hope for. Mikhail's use of the word sneak didn't really support that idea anyway. â€Å"They've lightened his guard,† Mikhail explained. â€Å"Really? How many?† There had been about a dozen down there when Lissa visited, including her escort. If they'd come to their senses and realized they only needed a guy or two on Dimitri, then that boded well for everyone accepting that he was no longer Strigoi. â€Å"He's down to about five.† â€Å"Oh.† Not great. Not horrible. â€Å"But I guess even that means they're a little closer to believing he's safe now?† Mikhail shrugged, keeping his eyes on the path ahead of us. It had rained during the Death Watch, and the air, while still humid, had cooled a little. â€Å"Some of the guardians do. But it'll take a royal decree from the Council to officially declare what he is.† I almost came to a halt. â€Å"Declare what he is?† I exclaimed. â€Å"He's not a what! He's a person. A dhampir like us.† â€Å"I know, but it's out of our hands.† â€Å"You're right. Sorry,† I grumbled. No point in shooting the messenger. â€Å"Well, I hope they get off their asses and come to a decision soon.† The silence that followed spoke legions. I gave Mikhail a sharp glare. â€Å"What? What aren't you telling me?† I demanded. He shrugged. â€Å"The rumor is that there's some other big thing being debated in the Council right now, something that takes priority.† That enraged me too. What in the world could take priority over Dimitri? Calm, Rose. Stay calm. Focus. Don't let the darkness make this worse. I always fought to keep it buried, but it often exploded in times of stress. And this? Yeah, this was a pretty stressful time. I shifted back to the original topic. We reached the holding building, and I took the steps up two at a time. â€Å"Even if they've lightened the guardians on Dimitri, they still won't let me in. The ones that are there would know I was ordered to keep away.† â€Å"A friend of mine's covering the front shift right now. We won't have long, but he'll tell the guardians in the holding area that you were authorized to come down.† Mikhail was about to open the door, and I stopped him, putting my hand on his arm. â€Å"Why are you doing this for me? The Moroi Council might not think Dimitri's a big deal, but the guardians do. You could get in big trouble.† He looked down at me, again with that small, bitter smile. â€Å"Do you have to ask?† I thought about it. â€Å"No,† I said softly. â€Å"When I lost Sonya†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mikhail closed his eyes for a heartbeat, and when he opened them, they seemed to be staring off into the past. â€Å"When I lost her, I didn't want to go on living. She was a good person–really. She turned Strigoi out of desperation. She saw no other way to save herself from spirit. I would give anything–anything–for a chance to help her, to fix things between us. I don't know if that'll ever be possible for us, but it is possible for you right now. I can't let you lose this.† With that, he let us in, and sure enough, there was a different guardian on duty. Just as Mikhail had said, the guy called down to tell the jail guardians Dimitri had a visitor. Mikhail's friend seemed incredibly nervous about it all, which was understandable. Still, he was willing to help. It was amazing, I thought, what friends would do for each other. These last couple of weeks were undeniable proof of that. Just like at Lissa's visit, two guardians showed up to escort me downstairs. I recognized them from when I'd been in her head, and they seemed surprised to see me. If they'd overheard Dimitri adamantly saying he didn't want me to visit, then my presence would indeed be shocking. But as far as they knew, someone in power had condoned me being here, so they asked no questions. Mikhail trailed us as we wound our way down, and I felt my heartbeat and breathing grow rapid. Dimitri. I was about to see Dimitri. What would I say? What would I do? It was almost too much to comprehend. I had to keep mentally slapping myself to focus, or else I was going to slide into dumbstruck shock. When we reached the hallway that held the cells, I saw two guardians standing in front of Dimitri's cell, one at the far end, and two others by the entrance we'd come through. I stopped, uneasy about the thought of others overhearing me talk to Dimitri. I didn't want an audience like Lissa had had, but with the emphasis on security here, I might not have a choice. â€Å"Can I get a little privacy?† I asked. One of my escorts shook his head. â€Å"Official orders. Two guardians have to be posted at the cell at all times.† â€Å"She's a guardian,† pointed out Mikhail mildly. â€Å"So am I. Let us go. The rest can wait by the door.† I flashed Mikhail a grateful look. I could handle having him nearby. The others, deciding we would be safe enough, moved discreetly to the ends of the hall. It wasn't total and complete privacy, but they wouldn't hear everything. My heart felt ready to burst from my chest as Mikhail and I walked over to Dimitri's cell and faced it. He was seated almost as he had been when Lissa arrived: on the bed, curled up into himself, back facing us. Words stuck in my throat. Coherent thought fled from my mind. It was like I'd totally forgotten the reason I'd come here. â€Å"Dimitri,† I said. At least, that's what I tried to say. I choked up a little, so the sounds that came out of my mouth were garbled. It was apparently enough, though, because Dimitri's back suddenly went rigid. He didn't turn around. â€Å"Dimitri,† I repeated, more clearly this time. â€Å"It's†¦ me.† There was no need for me to say any more. He'd known from that first attempt at his name who I was. I had a feeling he would have known my voice in any situation. He probably knew the sound of my heartbeat and breathing. As it was, I think I stopped breathing while I waited for his response. When it came, it was a little disappointing. â€Å"No.† â€Å"No what?† I asked. â€Å"As in, no, it's not me?† He exhaled in frustration, a sound almost–but not quite–like the one he used to make when I did something particularly ridiculous in our trainings. â€Å"No, as in I don't want to see you.† His voice was thick with emotion. â€Å"They weren't supposed to let you in.† â€Å"Yeah. Well, I kind of found a work-around.† â€Å"Of course you did.† He still wouldn't face me, which was agonizing. I glanced over at Mikhail, who gave me a nod of encouragement. I guessed I should be glad that Dimitri was talking to me at all. â€Å"I had to see you. I had to know if you were okay.† â€Å"I'm sure Lissa's already updated you.† â€Å"I had to see for myself.† â€Å"Well, now you see.† â€Å"All I see is your back.† It was maddening, yet every word I got out of him was a gift. It felt like a thousand years since I'd heard his voice. Like before, I wondered how I could have ever confused the Dimitri in Siberia with this one. His voice had been identical in both places, the same pitch and accent, yet as a Strigoi, his words had always left a chill in the air. This was warm. Honey and velvet and all sorts of wonderful things wrapping around me, no matter the terrible things he was saying. â€Å"I don't want you here,† said Dimitri flatly. â€Å"I don't want to see you.† I took a moment to assess strategy. Dimitri still had that depressed, hopeless feel around him. Lissa had approached it with kindness and compassion. She'd gotten through his defenses, though a lot of that was because he regarded her as his savior. I could try a similar tactic. I could be gentle and supportive and full of love–all of which were true. I loved him. I wanted to help him so badly. Yet I wasn't sure that particular method would work for me. Rose Hathaway was not always known for the soft approach. I did, however, play on his sense of obligation. â€Å"You can't ignore me,† I said, trying to keep my volume out of range of the other guardians. â€Å"You owe me. I saved you.† A few moments of silence passed. â€Å"Lissa saved me,† he said carefully. Anger burned within my chest, just it had when I'd watched Lissa visit him. How could he hold her in such high regard but not me? â€Å"How do you think she got to that point?† I demanded. â€Å"How do you think she learned how to save you? Do you have any idea what we–what I–had to go through to get that information? You think me going to Siberia was crazy? Believe me, you haven't even come close to seeing crazy. You know me. You know what I'm capable of. And I broke my own records this time. You. Owe. Me.† It was harsh, but I needed a reaction from him. Some kind of emotion. And I got it. He jerked around, eyes glinting and power crackling through his body. As always, his movements were both fierce and graceful. Likewise, his voice was a mix of emotions: anger, frustration, and concern. â€Å"Then the best thing I can do is–â€Å" He froze. The brown eyes that had been narrowed with aggravation suddenly went wide with†¦ what? Amazement? Awe? Or perhaps that stunned feeling I kept having when I saw him? Because suddenly, I was pretty sure he was experiencing the same thing I had earlier. He'd seen me plenty of times in Siberia. He'd seen me just the other night at the warehouse. But now†¦ now he was truly viewing me with his own eyes. Now that he was no longer Strigoi, his whole world was different. His outlook and feelings were different. Even his soul was different. It was like one of those moments when people talked about their lives flashing before their eyes. Because as we stared at one another, every part of our relationship replayed in my mind's eye. I remembered how strong and invincible he'd been when we first met, when he'd come to bring Lissa and me back to the folds of Moroi society. I remembered the gentleness of his touch when he'd bandaged my bloodied and battered hands. I remembered him carrying me in his arms after Victor's daughter Natalie had attacked me. Most of all, I remembered the night we'd been together in the cabin, just before the Strigoi had taken him. A year. We'd known each other only a year, but we'd lived a lifetime in it. And he was realizing that too, I knew, as he studied me. His gaze was all-powerful, taking in every single one of my features and filing them away. Dimly, I tried to recall what I looked like today. I still wore the dress from the secret meeting and knew it looked good on me. My eyes were probably bloodshot from crying earlier, and I'd only had time for a quick brushing of my hair before heading off with Adrian. Somehow, I doubted any of it mattered. The way Dimitri was looking at me†¦ it confirmed everything I'd suspected. The feelings he'd had for me before he'd been turned–the feelings that had become twisted while a Strigoi–were all still there. They had to be. Maybe Lissa was his savior. Maybe the rest of the Court thought she was a goddess. I knew, right then, that no matter how bedraggled I looked or how blank he tried to keep his face, I was a goddess to him. He swallowed and forcibly gained control of himself, just like he always had. Some things never changed. â€Å"Then the best thing I can do,† he continued calmly, â€Å"is to stay away from you. That's the best way to repay the debt.† It was hard for me to keep control and maintain some sort of logical conversation. I was as awestruck as he was. I was also outraged. â€Å"You offered to repay Lissa by staying by her side forever!† â€Å"I didn't do the things†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He averted his eyes for a moment, again struggling for control, and then met mine once more. â€Å"I didn't do the things to her that I did to you.† â€Å"You weren't you! I don't care.† My temper was starting to burn again â€Å"How many?† he exclaimed. â€Å"How many guardians died last night because of what I did?† â€Å"I†¦ I think six or seven.† Harsh losses. I felt a small pang in my chest, recalling the names read off in that basement room. â€Å"Six or seven,† Dimitri repeated flatly, anguish in his voice. â€Å"Dead in one night. Because of me.† â€Å"You didn't act alone! And I told you, you weren't you. You couldn't control yourself. It doesn't matter to me–â€Å" â€Å"It matters to me!† he shouted, his voice ringing through the hallway. The guardians at each end shifted but didn't approach. When Dimitri spoke again, he kept his voice lower, but it was still trembling with wild emotions. â€Å"It matters to me. That's what you don't get. You can't understand. You can't understand what it's like knowing what I did. That whole time being Strigoi†¦ it's like a dream now, but it's one I remember clearly. There can be no forgiveness for me. And what happened with you? I remember that most of all. Everything I did. Everything I wanted to do.† â€Å"You're not going to do it now,† I pleaded. â€Å"So let it go. Before–before everything happened, you said we could be together. That we'd get assignments near each other and–â€Å" â€Å"Roza,† he interrupted, the nickname piercing my heart. I think he'd slipped up, not truly meaning to call me that. There was a twisted smile on his lips, one without humor. â€Å"Do you really think they're going to ever let me be a guardian again? It'll be a miracle if they let me live!† â€Å"That's not true. Once they realize you've changed and that you're really your old self†¦ everything'll go back to how it was.† He shook his head sadly. â€Å"Your optimism†¦ your belief that you can make anything happen. Oh, Rose. It's one of the amazing things about you. It's also one of the most infuriating things about you.† â€Å"I believed that you could come back from being a Strigoi,† I pointed out. â€Å"Maybe my belief in the impossible isn't so crazy after all.† This conversation was so grave, so heartbreaking, yet it still kept reminding me of some of our old practice sessions. He'd try to convince me of some serious point, and I'd counter it with Rose-logic. It would usually earn me a mix of amusement and exasperation. I had the feeling that were the situation just a little different, he'd have that same attitude now. But this was not a practice session. He wouldn't smile and roll his eyes. This was serious. This was life and death. â€Å"I'm grateful for what you did,† he said formally, still struggling to master his feelings. It was another trait we shared, both of us always working to stay in control. He'd always been better at it than me. â€Å"I do owe you. And it's a debt I can't pay. Like I said, the best thing I can do is stay out of your life.† â€Å"If you're part of Lissa's, then you can't avoid me.† â€Å"People can exist around each other without†¦ without there being any more than that,† he said firmly. It was such a Dimitri thing to say. Logic fighting emotion. And that's when I lost it. Like I said, he was always better at keeping control. Me? Not so much. I threw myself against the bars, so rapidly that even Mikhail flinched. â€Å"But I love you!† I hissed. â€Å"And I know you love me too. Do you really think you can spend the rest of your life ignoring that when you're around me?† The troubling part was that for a very long time at the Academy, Dimitri had been convinced he could do exactly that. And he had been prepared to spend his life not acting on his feelings for me. â€Å"You love me,† I repeated. â€Å"I know you do.† I stretched my arm through the bars. It was a long way from touching him, but my fingers reached out desperately, as though they might suddenly grow and be able to make contact. That was all I needed. One touch from him to know he still cared, one touch to feel the warmth of his skin and– â€Å"Isn't it true,† said Dimitri quietly, â€Å"that you're involved with Adrian Ivashkov?† My arm dropped. â€Å"Wh–where did you hear that?† â€Å"Things get around,† he said, echoing Mikhail. â€Å"They certainly do,† I muttered. â€Å"So are you?† he asked more adamantly. I hesitated before answering. If I told him the truth, he'd have more ground to make his point about us keeping apart. It was impossible for me to lie to him, though. â€Å"Yes, but–â€Å" â€Å"Good.† I'm not sure how I expected him to react. Jealousy? Shock? Instead, as he leaned back against the wall, he looked†¦ relieved. â€Å"Adrian's a better person than he gets credit for. He'll be good to you.† â€Å"But–â€Å" â€Å"That's where your future is, Rose.† A bit of that hopeless, world-weary attitude was returning. â€Å"You don't understand what it's like coming through what I did–coming back from being a Strigoi. It's changed everything. It's not just that what I did to you is unforgiveable. All my feelings†¦ my emotions for you†¦ they changed. I don't feel the way I used to. I might be a dhampir again, but after what I went through†¦ well, it's scarred me. It altered my soul. I can't love anyone now. I can't–I don't–love you. There's nothing more between you and me.† My blood turned cold. I refused to believe his words, not after the way he'd looked at me earlier. â€Å"No! That's not true! I love you and you–â€Å" â€Å"Guards!† Dimitri shouted, his voice so loud that it was a wonder the whole building didn't shake. â€Å"Get her out of here. Get her out of here!† With amazing guardian reflexes, the guards were down at the cell in a flash. As a prisoner, Dimitri wasn't in a position to make requests, but the authorities here certainly weren't going to encourage a situation that would create a commotion. They began herding Mikhail and me out, but I resisted. â€Å"No, wait–â€Å" â€Å"Don't fight it,† murmured Mikhail in my ear. â€Å"Our time's running out, and you couldn't have accomplished anything else today anyway.† I wanted to protest, but the words stuck on my lips. I let the guardians direct me out, but not before I gave Dimitri one last, lingering look. He had a perfect, guardian-blank look on his face, but the piercing way he stared at me made me certain there was a lot going on within him. Mikhail's friend was still on duty upstairs, which let us slip out without getting in–much–more trouble. As soon as we were outdoors, I came to a halt and kicked one of the steps angrily. â€Å"Damn it!† I yelled. A couple of Moroi across the courtyard–probably coming home from some late party–gave me startled looks. â€Å"Calm down,† said Mikhail. â€Å"This was the first time you've seen him since the change. There are only so many miracles you can expect right away. He'll come around.† â€Å"I'm not so sure,† I grumbled. Sighing, I looked up at the sky. Little wispy clouds moved lazily about, but I barely saw them. â€Å"You don't know him like I do.† Because while part of me thought that a lot of what Dimitri had said was indeed a reaction to the shock of returning to himself, there was another part of me that wondered. I knew Dimitri. I knew his sense of honor, his adamant beliefs about what was right and wrong. He stood by those beliefs. He lived his life by them. If he truly, truly believed that the right thing to do was to avoid me and let any relationship between us fade, well†¦ there was a good chance he might very well act on that idea, no matter the love between us. As I'd recalled earlier, he'd certainly shown a lot of resistance back at St. Vladimir's. As for the rest†¦ the part about him no longer loving me or being able to love anyone†¦ well, that would be a different problem all together if it were true. Both Christian and Adrian had worried there would be some piece of Strigoi left in him, but their fears had been about violence and bloodshed. No one would have guessed this: that living as a Strigoi had hardened his heart, killing any chance of him loving anyone. Killing any chance of him loving me. And I was pretty sure that if that was the case, then part of me would die too.

Marketing Evaluation Essay

Recommend the position in the market. â€Å"Research undertaken by the Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) predicts that demand for travel and tourism in India will by an appreciable 8.1 per cent p.a. in the coming decade making it the third fastest growing travel destination in the world† (Bharwani & Mathews, Risk Identification and analysis in the hospitality industry, 2012). India has emerged as an ideal location to embark on a global expansion in the hospitality industry. According to Line and Runyan, in the hospitality segment there have been countless studies that argue that customer service has a direct correlation to employee job satisfaction and productivity, the same is said in the international arena for hospitality (Line & Runyan, 2012, p. 478). As with many of the international hospitality emergent, customer and employee interaction defines the profitability and sustainability of the company. World travelers look for impeccable service with all of the attributes of a bed and breakfast (Olsen, Chathoth, & Sharma, 2001). According to Bhawarni and Butts, â€Å"guests actively seek superior quality, customized yet consistent hospitality experiences which integrate a subtle culture specific novelty with a certain acceptable level of service and product quality† (Bharwani & Butt, Challenges for the global hospitality industry: an HR perspective, 2012, p. 155). This sets the standards high for employees and management. In accordance with the standards of the international hospitality brands, Bollman is recommended to pursue a luxury branding for their entry into India. This will entail in depth training and qualification standards. Conduct a market evaluation by researching what companies in the relevant market are providing to employees from a total compensation perspective. Currently India does not have minimum wage set by the government, although this is expected to change in the near future, it does present a challenge for companies wishing to expand into the area. Due to the changes in the international travelers and hospitality consumers into the region India has a shortage of trained and efficient employees. The area is also being impacted due to the aging population, which shrinks the current labor force. This means that the training costs and employee turnover rate is a significant factor in the India market. According to Bharwani and Butt, competitors of this region have begun to put set company policies for minimum wage standards. International companies have implemented  competitive pay standards, incentive and benefit programs, productive and safe work environments, and the ability to advance within the company (Bharwani & Butt, Challenges for the global hospitality industry: an HR perspective, 2012, p. 158). Training has also been a key determinant in the success and customer satisfaction with international hospitality companies. The ability of the employees to deliver a luxury and home-like experience to the consumer is the foundation for s uccess in the international arena. References Bharwani, S., & Butt, N. (2012). Challenges for the global hospitality industry: an HR perspective. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 4(2), 150-162. Bharwani, S., & Mathews, D. (2012). Risk Identification and analysis in the hospitality industry. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 4(5), 420-427. Jauhari, V., & Rishi, M. (2012). Challenges faced by the hospitality industry in India: an introduction. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 4(2), 110-117. Line, N. D., & Runyan, R. C. (2012). Hospitality marketing research: Recent trends and future directions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 31, 477-488. Olsen, M. D., Chathoth, P., & Sharma, A. (2001, April-September). Forces Driving Change in the Hospitality Industry in India. Journal of Services Research, 1(1), 3-21.a